Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Conewago Township, Pennsylvania

Conewago Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction in Conewago Township, York County, PA (township building permit administered by the zoning officer)

  • The zoning ordinance defines a building permit as a township-issued approval for construction, repair, alteration or moving of any structure, including mobile homes, houses, sheds, barns, garages, swimming pools, gazebos and pavilions.
  • The township says a building permit is required before construction starts and that penalties apply if building starts without one.
  • Township notice: Act 90 lets the township withhold permits from owners delinquent on taxes or sanitary sewer charges, or who owe fines or liens.
  • Questions go to [email protected] or 717.266.2122 x 13 per the forms page. The township states it does not send email invoices for permits.

  “please remember that penalties will be assessed if building is started without first having a permit issued.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Conewago Township, York County, PA: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Ordinance #322)

  • The township's own ordinance index lists the zoning ordinance as #322 dated 08/05/09; the date is not labeled as an adoption or effective date, so effective_at is null.
  • The PDF opened is the 2008 text as posted; the same index lists amendments #345, #353, #362, #363 and #374 and a zoning map dated 6.3.2026. These were not opened, so the consolidated current text was not verified.
  • The township home page describes a draft data center ordinance and overlay (2026). No adoption was seen; treat it as not in force.

  “section 101 short title this ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the “conewago township zoning ordinance of 2008.””

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Conewago Township, York County, PA

  • Section 301 divides the township into zones: R-1 (low density residential), R-2 (medium density residential), V (village), C (commercial), I (industrial), A (agriculture), CV (conservation), FW (floodway), FF (flood fringe) and FA (general flood plain area).
  • The zoning map is referenced as part of the ordinance; the township index lists a zoning map dated 6.3.2026 that was not opened.
  • Only the zone list and the R-1 district were read; boundaries were not verified against the map.

  “the township of conewago is divided into zones enumerated below and shown on the map entitled “zoning map of conewago township” which map is part of this ordinance.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family and other principal-use lots in the R-1 low density residential zone (Section 303) of Conewago Township where there is no public water or public sewer

  • Section 303 purpose: the r-1 zone is for rural, low density residential character, and 'these areas are not likely to be served by public sewer or water facilities within the near future.'
  • The table row captured is the 'no public water or public sewer' row. Rows for lots with public water and/or sewer were not captured.
  • Minimum lot width may be altered by the exceptions in Section 412 (not reviewed).

  minimum lot area (no public water or public sewer): >= 43560 sq ft (only the row for no public water or public sewer was captured) · minimum lot width (no public water or public sewer): >= 150 ft (subject to Section 412 exceptions)

  “lot area and width: lot area and lot width not less than the following dimension shall be provided for each principal use hereafter established in this zone. see section 412 for exceptions to minimum lot width requirements. minimum lot area minimum lot width no public water or public sewer 43,560 sq. ft. 150 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the R-1 low density residential zone (Section 303) of Conewago Township

  • Front setback is measured from the street right-of-way line.
  • Front setback is 50 ft for arterials and expressways; the 35 ft figure applies to minor streets.
  • Section 303 setback paragraph is for the R-1 zone only; accessory and special exception rules in Article IV were not reviewed.

  front setback, minor street: >= 35 ft (from street right-of-way line) · front setback, arterial or expressway: >= 50 ft (from street right-of-way line) · side setback: >= 25 ft (from property line) · rear setback: >= 35 ft (from property line)

  “setbacks: each lot shall provide front, side and rear setbacks not less than the following: front setback: thirty-five (35) feet from the street right-of-way line for minor streets, and fifty (50) feet from the street right-of-way line for arterials and expressways. side setback: twenty-five (25) feet from property line. rear setback: thirty-five (35) feet from property line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 low density residential zone (Section 303) of Conewago Township

  • Coverage includes buildings, structures and any impervious surface.
  • Other zones' coverage limits were not verified.

  maximum lot coverage (buildings, structures and impervious surface): <= 40 percent of lot area

  “g. lot coverage: not more than forty (40) percent of the lot area may be covered by buildings, structures or any impervious surface.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Main buildings in the R-1 low density residential zone (Section 303) of Conewago Township

  • Height is measured from the lowest finished grade at the building foundation to the roof high point (definition of building height, Article II).
  • Other zones' height limits and accessory-structure limits were not verified.

  maximum main building height: <= 36 ft

  “f. building height: the height limit for a main building shall be not more than thirty-six (36) feet.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Conewago Township

  • Governed by the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance #324 as listed on the township index; its text was not opened.
  • Subdivision and land development review is separate from zoning permits.

  “subdivision and land development ordinance #324 – table of contents”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit applications administered by Conewago Township

  • The forms page lists residential and non-residential building permit applications, driveway, hearing, and stormwater applications, but the application PDFs and the step sequence were not opened.
  • Process is partial: the forms page does not state review times or inspection steps.

  “the township is providing below pdf downloads of our latest permits and forms.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Conewago Township or York County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Conewago Township permits
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption in Conewago Township, York County, PA
• Inspections — Building inspections in Conewago Township, York County, PA
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Conewago Township, York County, PA
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Conewago Township

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.